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| United States Patent |
6,230,745
|
|
Brooks
|
May 15, 2001
|
Pipe heating device
Abstract
A pipe heating device for conveniently thawing out pipelines. The pipe
heating device includes a scissor-like member including a first elongate
member having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion, and
also including a second elongate member having a first end, a second end,
and an intermediate portion which is hingedly attached to the intermediate
portion of the first elongate member; and also includes a first
semi-cylindrical member having ends, side edges and being securely
attached to the first end of the first elongate member; and further
includes a second semi-cylindrical member having ends, side edges and
being securely attached to the first end of the second elongate member
with each of the side edges of the second semi-cylindrical member being in
contactable relationship with a respective one of the side edges of the
first semi-cylindrical member; and also includes a heating assembly for
heating the first and second semi-cylindrical members.
| Inventors:
|
Brooks; Cullen (4862 Ivy St., East Chicago, IN 46312)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
595461 |
| Filed:
|
June 16, 2000 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
138/33; 138/35; 219/229; 219/477; 219/643 |
| Intern'l Class: |
E03B 007/14 |
| Field of Search: |
138/32,33,35
219/643,228,229,477
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
| 1316190 | Sep., 1919 | Sackerman | 138/33.
|
| 1972186 | Sep., 1934 | Davis | 219/477.
|
| 2470854 | May., 1949 | Kovac | 138/33.
|
| 2620430 | Dec., 1952 | Trowbridge | 138/33.
|
| 2974717 | Mar., 1961 | Lindsay | 156/502.
|
| 3519023 | Jul., 1970 | Burns, Sr. et al. | 138/33.
|
| 5412184 | May., 1995 | McGaffigan | 219/643.
|
| 5743017 | Apr., 1998 | Dreher et al. | 219/229.
|
| 6060695 | May., 2000 | Harle et al. | 219/229.
|
Primary Examiner: Hook; James
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A pipe heating device comprising;
a scissor-like member including a first elongate member having a first end,
a second end, and an intermediate portion, and also including a second
elongate member having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate
portion which is hingedly attached to said intermediate portion of said
first elongate member;
a first semi-cylindrical member having ends, side edges and being securely
attached to said first end of said first elongate member;
a second semi-cylindrical member having ends, side edges and being securely
attached to said first end of said second elongate member, each of said
side edges of said second semi-cylindrical member being in contactable
relationship with a respective one of said side edges of said first
semi-cylindrical member;
means for heating said first and second semi-cylindrical members; and
wherein said means for heating said first and second semi-cylindrical
members includes heating elements which are disposed within said walls
thereof, and also includes wires connected to said heating elements, and
further includes a heat control member pivotally mounted upon said
intermediate portion of one of said elongate member and being connected to
said wires, and also includes a power cord being connected to said heat
control member and being adapted to be plugged into a power source.
2. A pipe heating device as described in claim 1, wherein said first
semi-cylindrical member is disposed generally perpendicular to said first
elongate member, said first elongate member being securely attached to an
outer side of a wall of said first semi-cylindrical member intermediate of
said ends thereof and near one of said side edges thereof.
3. A pipe heating device as described in claim 1, wherein said second
semi-cylindrical member is disposed generally perpendicular to said second
elongate member, said second elongate member being securely attached to an
outer side of a wall of said second semi-cylindrical member intermediate
of said ends thereof and near one of said side edges thereof.
4. A pipe heating device as described in claim 1, wherein said first and
second semi-cylindrical members have inner sides and are disposed such
that said inner sides face each other, said first and second
semi-cylindrical members being biasedly closed upon one another to
essentially form a cylindrical member and being adapted to securely and
closeably fit about a portion of a pipe.
5. A pipe heating device as described in claim 1, wherein said second ends
of said elongate members have loop portions which are adapted to receive
fingers of a user and arc adapted to allow a user to grasp said
scissor-like member and open and close said semi-cylindrical members from
about a pipe.
6. A pipe heating device comprising:
a scissor-like member including a first elongate member having a first end,
a second end, and an intermediate portion, and also including a second
elongate member having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate
portion which is hingedly attached to said intermediate portion of said
first elongate member;
a first semi-cylindrical member having ends, side edges and being securely
attached to said first end of said first elongate member;
a second semi-cylindrical member having ends, side edges and being securely
attached to said first end of said second elongate member, each of said
side edges of said second semi-cylindrical member being in contactable
relationship with a respective one of said side edges of said first
semi-cylindrical member;
means for heating said first and second semi-cylindrical members; and
wherein said second ends of said elongate members have loop portions which
arc adapted to receive fingers of a user and are adapted to allow a user
to grasp said scissor-like member and open and close said semi-cylindrical
members about a pipe.
7. A pipe heating device as described in claim 6, wherein said first
semi-cylindrical member is disposed generally perpendicular to said first
elongate member, said first elongate member being securely attached to an
outer side of a wall of said first semi-cylindrical member intermediate of
said ends thereof and near one of said side edges thereof.
8. A pipe heating device as described in claim 6, wherein said second
semi-cylindrical member is disposed generally perpendicular to said second
elongate member, said second elongate member being securely attached to an
outer side of a wall of said second semi-cylindrical member intermediate
of said ends thereof and near one of said side edges thereof.
9. A pipe heating device as described in claim 6, wherein said first and
second semi-cylindrical members have inner sides and are disposed such
that said inner sides face each other, said first and second
semi-cylindrical members being biasedly closed upon one another to
essentially form a cylindrical member and being adapted to securely and
closeably fit about a portion of a pipe.
10. A pipe heating device comprising;
a scissor-like member including a first elongate member having a first end,
a second end, and an intermediate portion, and also including a second
elongate member having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate
portion which is hingedly attached to said intermediate portion of said
first elongate member;
a first semi-cylindrical member having ends, side edges and being securely
attached to said first end of said first elongate member, said first
semi-cylindrical member being disposed generally perpendicular to said
first elongate member, said first elongate member being securely attached
to an outer side of a wall of said first semi-cylindrical member
intermediate of said ends thereof and near one of said side edges thereof;
a second semi-cylindrical member having ends, side edges and being securely
attached to said first end of said second elongate member, each of said
side edges of said second semi-cylindrical member being in contactable
relationship with a respective one of said side edges of said first
semi-cylindrical member, said second semi-cylindrical member being
disposed generally perpendicular to said second elongate member, said
second elongate member being securely attached to an outer side of a wall
of said second semi-cylindrical member intermediate of said ends thereof
and near one of said side edges thereof, said first and second
semi-cylindrical members having inner sides and are disposed such that
said inner sides face each other, said first and second semi-cylindrical
members being biasedly closed upon one another to essentially form a
cylindrical member and being adapted to securely and closeably fit about a
pipe, said second ends of said elongate members having loop portions which
are adapted to receive fingers of a user and are adapted to allow a user
to grasp said scissor-like member and open and close said semi-cylindrical
members from about a pipe; and means for heating said first and second
semi-cylindrical members including heating elements which are disposed
within said walls thereof, and also including wires connected to said
heating elements, and further including a heat control member pivotally
mounted upon said intermediate portion of one of said elongate member and
being connected to said wires, and also including a power cord being
connected to said heat control member and being adapted to be plugged into
a power source.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable water line heating device and
more particularly pertains to a new pipe heating device for conveniently
thawing out pipelines.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of a portable water line heating device is known in the prior art.
More specifically, a portable water line heating device heretofore devised
and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and
obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs
encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the
fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,394; U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,407;
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 274,601; U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,186; U.S. Pat. No.
4,787,583; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,376.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and
requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new pipe
heating device. The inventive device includes a scissor-like member
including a first elongate member having a first end, a second end, and an
intermediate portion, and also including a second elongate member having a
first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion which is hingedly
attached to the intermediate portion of the first elongate member; and
also includes a first semi-cylindrical member having ends, side edges and
being securely attached to the first end of the first elongate member; and
further includes a second semi-cylindrical member having ends, side edges
and being securely attached to the first end of the second elongate member
with each of the side edges of the second semi-cylindrical member being in
contactable relationship with a respective one of the side edges of the
first semi-cylindrical member; and also includes a heating means for
heating the first and second semi-cylindrical members.
In these respects, the pipe heating device according to the present
invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs
of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily
developed for the purpose of conveniently thawing out pipelines.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of
portable water line heating device now present in the prior art, the
present invention provides a new pipe heating device construction wherein
the same can be utilized for conveniently thawing out pipelines.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described
subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new pipe heating device
which has many of the advantages of the portable water line heating device
mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new pipe
heating device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or
even implied by any of the prior art portable water line heating device,
either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a scissor-like
member including a first elongate member having a first end, a second end,
and an intermediate portion, and also including a second elongate member
having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion which is
hingedly attached to the intermediate portion of the first elongate
member; and also includes a first semi-cylindrical member having ends,
side edges and being securely attached to the first end of the first
elongate member; and further includes a second semi-cylindrical member
having ends, side edges and being securely attached to the first end of
the second elongate member with each of the side edges of the second
semi-cylindrical member being in contactable relationship with a
respective one of the side edges of the first semi-cylindrical member; and
also includes a heating means for heating the first and second
semi-cylindrical members.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional
features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which
will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose
of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore,
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new pipe
heating device which has many of the advantages of the portable water line
heating device mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in
a new pipe heating device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious,
suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art portable water line
heating device, either alone or in any combination thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new pipe heating
device which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new pipe
heating device which is of a durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new pipe
heating device which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with
regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then
susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making
such pipe heating device economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new pipe
heating device which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior
art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some
of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new pipe
heating device for conveniently thawing out pipelines.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new pipe
heating device which includes a scissor-like member including a first
elongate member having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate
portion, and also including a second elongate member having a first end, a
second end, and an intermediate portion which is hingedly attached to the
intermediate portion of the first elongate member; and also includes a
first semi-cylindrical member having ends, side edges and being securely
attached to the first end of the first elongate member; and further
includes a second semi-cylindrical member having ends, side edges and
being securely attached to the first end of the second elongate member
with each of the side edges of the second semi-cylindrical member being in
contactable relationship with a respective one of the side edges of the
first semi-cylindrical member; and also includes a heating means for
heating the first and second semi-cylindrical members.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new pipe
heating device that is easy and convenient to clamp about a portion of a
pipe to be thawed.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new pipe
heating device that saves the user substantial time in thawing out pipes.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should
be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there
are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set
forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the
following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference
to the annexed drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new pipe heating device according to the
present invention.
FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of heat control member and wires of
the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the semi-cylindrical members and
heating elements of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4
thereof, a new pipe heating, device embodying the principles and concepts
of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral
10 will be described.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the pipe heating device 10
generally comprises a scissor-like member 11 including a first elongate
member 12 having a first end 14, a second end 15, and an intermediate
portion 16, and also including a second elongate member 13 having a first
end 17, a second end 18, and an intermediate portion 19 which is hingedly
attached to the intermediate portion 16 of the first elongate member 11.
A first semi-cylindrical member 22 having ends, side edges is securely and
conventionally attached to the first end 14 of the first elongate member
11 with the first semi-cylindrical member 22 being disposed generally
perpendicular to the first elongate member 11. The first elongate member
11 is securely and conventionally attached to an outer side of a wall 23
of the first semi-cylindrical member 22 intermediate of the ends thereof
and near one of the side edges thereof.
A second semi-cylindrical member 20 having ends, side edges is securely and
conventionally attached to the first end 17 of the second elongate member
13 with each of the side edges of the second semi-cylindrical member 20
being in contactable relationship with a respective one of the side edges
of the first semi-cylindrical member 22. The second semi-cylindrical
member 20 is disposed generally perpendicular to the second elongate
member 13 with the second elongate member 13 being securely and
conventionally attached to an outer side of a wall 21 of the second
semi-cylindrical member 20 intermediate of the ends thereof and near one
of the side edges thereof. The first 22 and second 20 semi-cylindrical
members have inner sides and are disposed such that the inner sides face
each other. The first 22 and second 20 semi-cylindrical members are
biasedly closed upon one another to essentially form a cylindrical member
and are adapted to securely and closeably fit about a portion of a pipe.
The second ends of the elongate members 12,13 have loop portions which are
adapted to receive fingers of a user and are adapted to allow a user to
grasp the scissor-like member 11 and open and close the semi-cylindrical
members 20,22 from about a pipe.
Means for heating the first 22 and second 20 semi-cylindrical members
includes heating elements 25 which are conventionally disposed within the
walls thereof, and also includes wires 26 conventionally connected to the
heating elements 25, and further includes a heat control member 24 which
is essentially a dial and which is pivotally and conventionally mounted
upon the intermediate portion 19 of one of the elongate members 13 and
which is conventionally connected to the wires 26, and also includes a
power cord 27 being conventionally connected to the heat control member 24
and being adapted to be plugged into a power source.
In use, the user fits one's fingers through the loop portions of the
elongate members 12,13 and opens the semi-cylindrical members 20,22 away
from one another so that the user can clamp the semi-cylindrical members
20,22 about the portion of the pipe selected to be heated. After doing so,
the user than turns the heat control element 24 to allow electricity to
flow from the power cord 27 which is plugged into a convenient electrical
outlet through the wires 26 and the heating elements 25 thus causing the
semi-cylindrical members 20,22 to heat which is transferred to the portion
of the pipe being heated.
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the
present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description.
Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and
operation will be provided.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are
intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
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